2023 La Poulosa Bierzo, Raúl Pérez, La Vizcaína

• Style: Dark-fruited Mencía blend, velvety tannins, saline grip
• Taste: Black cherries, blackberries, black pepper, forest-floor minerality, crisp acidity
• Food: Roasted lamb, game, aged cheese, BBQ, stews, beef, venison
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night, everyday table or serious dining
• Serve: 13.5% ABV, field blend Mencía–Bastardo–Garnacha Tintorera, chill and decant

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Dark, earthy richness unfolds on the nose: black cherries and blackberries entwined with black pepper and forest-floor minerality. The palate reveals the wine's true character — ripe, fleshy fruit balanced by crisp acidity and refined, velvety tannins. Built from a field blend of Mencía, Bastardo and Garnacha Tintorera at 13.5% alcohol, this is a wine of precision and freshness that signals serious intent from the first sip.

The Winery — Raúl Pérez

One of Spain's most respected winemakers and a native of Bierzo, Raúl Pérez sources La Poulosa from a 2.2-hectare vineyard planted in 1940 on pebbly clay soils in Valtuille de Abajo. His family has cultivated grapes in this village since the 1750s; after launching his own projects in 2005, Raúl has dedicated himself to preserving the region's viticultural heritage and understanding its indigenous varieties. The slightly warmer microclimate yields a darker, more earthbound character — less floral lift, more mineral grip and savoury depth. Fermentation uses whole-bunch fruit in used oak with no aggressive extraction, followed by 40 days on skins and 11 months in French foudres. This measured cellar work lets the vineyard's identity emerge. The 2023 vintage, one of the finest in Bierzo's history, rewarded careful winemaking: a cooler, fresher growing season with timely rainfall allowed thin-skinned Mencía to flourish with refinement.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Serve this wine with roasted lamb, game birds, or aged hard cheeses — it's built for savoury, structured food that rewards its balance and grip. Equally at home on an everyday dinner table and in front of serious fare, La Poulosa pairs brilliantly with full-bodied red wine partners: BBQ and grilled dishes, stews and braises, roast dinners, beef and steak. Organic and vegan-friendly, it sits comfortably among the finest expressions emerging from Bierzo, one of Spain's most compelling red regions. Perfect for Sunday lunch or a date night when you want depth without pretension.